Protecting Older Georgians from Scams

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is urging Georgia’s older adults and their caregivers to stay informed on how to recognize and avoid some common scams, and we here at Georgia SMP want to help spread the word. While these schemes can and do happen to people of all ages, the perpetrators often target older adults because they are frequently home during the day, have money saved, and may be too polite to hang up the phone states a consumer alert released by Attorney General Carr’s office.

These are a few common scams targeting older adults that we would like to highlight in today’s article:

Grandchild

“Kidnapping” Scams: In these scams, fraudsters use scare tactics to try to get you to pay a large sum of money – typically via wire transfer or gift cards – to rescue a loved one who is in a dire situation. They may pose as your grandchild, a friend of his or hers, or a police officer. They tell you that your grandchild is badly hurt or in jail and that you must send money immediately to help him or her. In a similar scam, con artists claim to have kidnapped your loved one and insist that he or she will be harmed unless you pay a ransom immediately.

Law Enforcement Imposter Scams: Con artists are using phone spoofing technology to make it appear as though you are receiving a call from a legitimate law enforcement agency. In one reported scenario, the imposters claim that the potential victim was summoned to a federal grand jury and missed the court date. Because of this, the individual is told that they must report to a local law enforcement office for bond and to “process the paperwork.” To resolve the issue, the perpetrators instruct the potential victim to go to a retail store and buy “bond vouchers” in the form of gift cards.

Utility Scams: Fraudsters pose as representatives from your local gas or electric company. They may call or knock on your door, claiming that you have an unpaid balance and that unless you pay immediately – typically via prepaid gift cards or money order–they will shut off your service. Please contact your utility company directly at their legitimate customer service number listed on your bill or their official website to verify if there is an issue with your service or an unpaid balance.

Email Scams Targeting Faith Based Communities: In a common version of this scam, con artists set up email accounts that display the actual name of the rabbi, priest, pastor, imam, or other respected member of a particular house of worship. The fraudster then emails the members of the congregation asking for emergency donations to help someone in need and instructs the recipients to purchase gift cards

Medicare Scams: Scammers frequently attempt to charge Medicare for items and services never rendered or that are not medically necessary. Please do not give your Medicare number out over the phone and remember if any item or service is truly “free” you will not need to provide your Medicare number. Regularly review your Medicare statements for suspicious charges and call the SMP hotline at 877-272-8720 if you detect a suspicious or potentially fraudulent charge.

Red Flags of a Scam

Although the variety of scams can seem endless, there are some common characteristics that can help you to recognize and avoid a potential scam. We call these “red flags.”

Be on the lookout for red flags such as:

• High pressure tactics to act immediately

• Being asked to pay money via gift card or wire transfer

• Use of scare tactics, like telling you a loved one is in danger, or threatening arrest

• Being asked to provide personal information such as passwords, Social Security and Medicare numbers, account numbers, or financial information

• Get-rich-quick schemes, lottery winners, and other promises that sound too good to be true

Figuring out whether a call, text message, or email you receive is legitimate or not can be a confusing task. If you are not sure whether a contact or solicitation is legitimate, hang up the phone. If it’s an email or text, do not reply, click on any links, or download any attachments. Look up the actual contact information for the company or organization claiming to contact you and call their legitimate customer service number to verify whether you need to take any action or provide any information. If you have questions or concerns or wish to schedule a free educational presentation on how older adults can protect themselves from these types of scams, you can call the SMP hotline at 877-272-8720.